The Vermont House has joined the Senate in approving a resolution asking Congress to amend the U.S. Constitution, to override the Supreme Court's 'Citizens United' decision allowing corporation to spend freely on political campaigns.

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It was one of two long debates at the Statehouse Thursday. The Senate spent the afternoon approving the new legislative boundaries which will be used in the fall elections.

Statehouse leaders hope to adjourn for the year late next week, but many observers doubt that is possible given the Senate's current pace and a backlog of bills awaiting floor action.

Sen. John Campbell - the Windsor County Democrat and Senate leader - notified members they will be in session on Monday, an effort to try to catch up.

"It'll be a day to get through our calendar, and get smaller bills out," Campbell said. "Our conference committees will then meet during the week and I won't give up on the possibility of us getting out the end of next week."

Lawmakers have yet to pass a new energy bill, a miscellaneous tax bill affecting Vermont Yankee, the state budget, and a labor bill that could be a target for an unrelated attachment permitting child care workers to unionize.

The House and Senate must also resolve differences on a new transportation and capital construction budget, among others.

It doesn't help than over the last several weeks the Senate has seen internal tensions rise.

"It's the end of the session. You're going to have this happen," said Sen. Richard Mazza, a Colchester Democrat who has served here since 1985. He downplays talk of particular dysfunction.

But other veterans blame junior senators for needlessly windy floor speeches which, under the rules, can not be limited.

"There's been more debate than ever before," said Campbell. "A lot of that has to do with certain senators who seem to feel it's important for them to make whatever statements they want on every bill. On every issue."

Campbell wouldn't name names, but it's pretty clear who he meant.

"If you're asking if some of the freshman senators are enamored with hearing themselves speak, I plead guilty," acknowledged Sen. Philip Baruth, a Chittenden County Democrat. "But I think almost all senators have to plead guilty."

Peter Galbriath, another new member, noted it is every senator's right to debate whatever bills come to the floor, regardless of custom or tradition.

"Far as I recall, every member of the Senate got here exactly the same way, by being elected by people of their district," said Galbriath, of Windham County. "All have exactly the same right and obligation to represent aggressively their district and that's what I'm doing."

Galbriath blames leadership for leaving so many major bills to the very end of the session, and bristles in particular at the notion that a proposal which is not approved by a five-member committee can't be taken up by the full chamber.

Last week's effort to debate a controversial measure allowing physician-assisted death for the terminally ill, a bill which had not cleared the Judiciary Committee, sparked a heated floor debate -- not on the proposal's merits, but on the need to respect the 'committee process.'

"I think what needs to happen is we need new procedures next year. You can't continue a system in which a handful of committee chairs to make all decisions" about advancing or rejecting legislation, Galbriath said. "The people of Vermont elected 30 senators. Really what we're talking about is democracy - a more democratic Senate."

That frankness irritates many Senate veterans, one of whom declared the chamber "out of control this year."

Baruth says the division -- largely within the Democratic caucus -- is less about brash freshmen showing insufficient deference to Senate tradition. On key issues, he said, "It's more about center-right versus center-left -- but we don't ever talk about that."

Campbell has also endured his share of criticism over effective management of Senate personalities and the sometimes inexplicable flow of legislation.

He made clear, however, that he intends to return and seek a second term as the Senate's top leader In January.